Who Is Mel Daniels? Age, Biography and Wiki
Born on July 20, 1944, Mel Daniels was a prominent figure in American basketball, known for both his stellar playing career and his contributions as a coach. Unfortunately, Mel Daniels passed away on September 30, 2015, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire many athletes and coaches to this day. His impact on the game of basketball, particularly in the ABA where he played for teams like the Indiana Pacers, has been forever etched in sports history.
| Occupation | Basketball Players |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | July 20, 1944 |
| Age | 71 Years |
| Birth Place | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Cancer |
| Country | India |
| Date of death | 30 October, 2015 |
| Died Place | Sheridan, Indiana, U.S. |
Popularity
Mel Daniels's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Mel Daniels stood tall at 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 m) and weighed about 220 pounds (99.8 kg) during his playing days. His impressive physical stature, combined with his athleticism, made him a formidable player on the court.
During the 1965–66 season, Daniels suffered a severe injury when he put his arm through a glass door at Johnson Gymnasium, requiring 352 stitches and almost ending his athletic career. The sutures notwithstanding, Daniels missed only one game and averaged 21.2 points and 10.3 rebounds as the Lobos finished 16–8.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, Mel Daniels is remembered fondly by his family and fans. Throughout his life, there is not much public information regarding his dating life. He was known to be a private person. He was married for a period but, like many athletes, tended to keep the details of his personal relationships out of the media spotlight.
Daniels died on October 30, 2015, at the age of 71, from complications after heart surgery. He was survived by his wife, CeCe Daniels, son Mel Daniels Jr., two granddaughters, and two sisters.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his passing in 2015, Mel Daniels had an estimated net worth of around $1.5 million. His earnings came not only from his playing contract with the ABA/ NBA teams but also from his later career as a coach and sports commentator. Daniels was known for his investments in various business ventures related to basketball and community engagement.
After rejecting Cincinnati (with Oscar Robertson), Daniels became the first NBA first-round pick to snub the established league and go to the ABA. "At that time, it wasn't about money for me. But y'know, 2 + 2 is still 4," Daniels said of his decision to go to the ABA. "I was offered $15,000 by Cincinnati as a bonus and $17,500 as a salary.
I was offered $15,000 as a bonus in Minnesota and $30,000 as a salary. So the higher number somehow won out."
Career, Business and Investments
Mel Daniels had a distinguished career that spanned over a decade in professional basketball. After being drafted in 1967, he quickly made a name for himself in the ABA, where he became a two-time league MVP and a four-time All-Star. His post-playing career saw him transitioning into coaching, where he applied his extensive knowledge of the game to mentor young players and contribute to various basketball programs.
In addition to his basketball career, Daniels was involved in various business ventures, focusing on promoting the sport at local levels and supporting community activities. His dedication to helping young athletes pursue their basketball dreams has left a remarkable legacy.
Daniels continued to improve in college. Playing the 1963–1964 season at Burlington Community College in Burlington, Iowa, Daniels averaged 25.2 points and 10.0 rebounds and was named a Junior College All-American. While at Burlington, Daniels was recruited to play for the New Mexico Lobos by coach Bob King.
Daniels transferred, played for New Mexico from 1964 to 1967, averaged 20 points per game in his New Mexico Lobo career and was named an All-American.
Social Network
Though Mel Daniels was not very active on social media platforms during his lifetime, his legacy continues to flourish through the many tributes from fans on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Various fan pages and groups dedicated to his memory allow fans to share stories, clips, and discussions surrounding his life and accomplishments.
Bernice read poetry to Mel. He began writing poems by age eight and continued to write them throughout the rest of his life, generally focusing on the lives of athletes, but wrote poems about non-sports topics as well. Daniels mostly did not share his poems with his teammates, “This is the side I’ve kept quiet,” he said of his poems.
Education
Mel Daniels attended the University of New Mexico, where he played college basketball before turning professional. His time at the university helped shape his skills and laid the foundation for his successful career. Daniels was known for appreciating the importance of education, often emphasizing the balance between academics and athletics for aspiring young players.
Will Robinson, physical education teacher and basketball coach at Pershing High School, recalled Daniels being absent from PE class for a few weeks. So Mr. Robinson went looking for the truant Daniels and finally found him in the hallway and ordered him to the gym.
A few days later, Daniels still had not appeared in class, so Robinson went looking for him again. The way Mel Daniels, then a sophomore, remembered it, he was ordered by Coach Robinson to report to the gymnasium at 3:30 to join the basketball team.
